Marine litter data collection research and pilot testing (with support from Norway)

With generous funding from Norway, UNEP has been working to continue the development of national pilot testing of SDG 14.1.1b and development of national source inventories in Seychelles and Kenya, global data modelling of marine litter pathways, research on new data techniques and the development of a global platform on marine litter. This work was done in partnership with the Government of Kenya, the Government of Seychelles, CSIRO, WIOMSA.

Manual Training of Trainers on Monitoring and Assessment of Marine Litter and Microplastics in Mombasa 09.08.19 .pdf

Training of trainers

A training of trainers manual was produced which expands upon the methodology used during the pilot testing, plus additional methodologies on microplastics and other monitoring. This was also used to conduct a training for East Africa countries that was conducted by CSIRO and WIOMSA in August 2019. Contact: CSIRO: Denise Hardesty; WIOMSA: Julius Francis; UNEP: Heidi Savelli-Soderberg

CSIRO_Kenya.Aug2019 FINAL.PDF

Kenya SDG 14.1.1 and National Source Inventories

With NEMA from Kenya, UNEP has conducted a workshop on the national source inventory approach for marine litter and a data collection of beach litter for SDG 14.1.1b estimation. The following activities with NEMA Kenya are planned for 2020 :

A technical workshop on national source inventories in Q3 2020
A final national source inventory data report, including national action plan recommendations
A final meeting and high-level event

Contact: NEMA: Catherine Mbaisi ; UNEP: Jillian Campbell, Heidi Savelli-Soderberg ; Diana Ngina

CSIRO_Seychelles.field report.FINAL.PDF

Seychelles SDG 14.1.1 and National Source Inventories

With the MoE Seychelles, UNEP has conducted a workshop on the national source inventory approach for marine litter and a data collection of beach litter for SDG 14.1.1b estimation. The following activities with MoE Seychelles are planned for 2020:

A National source inventory data report and communications plan, including national action plan recommendations by Q4 2020.

Contact: MoE Seychelles: Alain Decomarmond; Nanette Laure ; UNEP: Jillian Campbell, Heidi Savelli-Soderberg ; Diana Ngina

An additional pilot testing which is specific to using citizen science for SDG 14.1.1 and other SDGs in Ghana is planned in collaboration with IIASA.

CitizenScience_report_30Sept2019.pdf

Research on existing citizen science initiatives

A paper on sources of citizen science data was commissioned. CSIRO drafted the paper. This paper is contributing to the citizen science approach to developing the Global Platform on Marine Litter.

Contact: CSIRO: Denise Hardesty; UNEP: Jillian Campbell, Heidi Savelli-Soderberg

SDG 14.1.1b expert meeting

The second expert group meting on measuring SDG 14.1.1 was held in Kenya in March 2019. This meeting was essential for finalizing the 14.1.1 methodology. more information on the experts and events can be found in the above link.

Contact: UNEP: Jillian Campbell, Heidi Savelli-Soderberg

Macroplastics_gear loss report.Revised.pdf

Fishing gear loss research

Research on fishing gear loss was commissioned. CSIRO drafted the paper.

Contact: CSIRO: Denise Hardesty; UNEP: Jillian Campbell, Heidi Savelli-Soderberg

Global plastic flow model

To understand the flow of marine litter from place to place Florida State University was commissioned to create a global flow model. A description of the methodology is here. Future planned activities:

Expanding the model for global application by Q3 2020.

Contact: Florida State: Eric Chassignet; UNEP: Jillian Campbell, Heidi Savelli-Soderberg

Norway Pilot: Global marine litter platform

UNEP is working with IBM GEO Blue Planet and other partners to design a global platform for marine litter. Future planned activities:

A pilot on the Norwegian data example (including SDG 14.1.1).
This will be included in the UNEA Bureau meeting and other events

Contact: Norway MoE: Ingeborg Mork-Knutsen; Miriam Mekki; Jenny Johanson Hovland; UNEP: Jillian Campbell, Heidi Savelli-Soderberg; Tessa Goverse; Shereen Zorba

Ad hoc open ended expert group

UNEP has been working to ensure that the work on monitoring marine litter is consistent across the SDGs, the Ad Hod and Open Ended Expert Group on Marine Litter and Microplastics and the Scientific Advisory Committee, including through sharing information across these events.